Monument Avenue 10K once again a success

The 15th annual Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k presented by MARTIN'S went off this morning with more than 36,300 participants. The 10k hosted the first-ever Collegiate Running Association 10k Road Race National Championships, which drew 1,390 college athletes to the streets of Richmond to compete for prize money.

UNC-Greensboro's Paul Chelimo, 23, took first place with a time of 29:24 followed closely by Tyler McCandless (29:33). Chelimo was the runner-up in the 5,000m at the 2012 and 2013 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. McCandless is a former NCAA All-American for Penn State University and current professional runner for Newton Running based out of Boulder, Co.

Kellyn Johnson, a multi-time NCAA All-American for Wichita State, took first place in the women's field with a time of 33:18. Johnson placed 4th at the 2014 USA XC Championships in February and went on to win the NACAC XC Championships in Trindad while representing Team USA. Susanna Sullivan, 23, finished second with a time of 33:42.

Although Chelimo and Johnson finished atop the standings, leading the pack today was AT&T Dash for the Cash contestant Jackie Woods, a 26-year old graduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University. Woods was selected at random from over 24,000 people registered for the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k on February 1, and was given a 2.35-mile head start based on her past race results. She took home the $2,500 prize after beating the rest of the field to the finish line. This is the seventh year in a row that the AT&T Dash for the Cash contestant claimed the prize.

Prize money was also awarded to the top three males and females that live and train in the Richmond area. Robert Reynolds (30:30) took first place for the second year in a row. Matt McKenna (31:33) and Richard Morris (31:37) finished second and third on the men's side, while Sharon Zeller (36:35), Julie Patterson (37:02) and Anne Menefee (37:03) took home the prize money on the women's side.

In addition to the 36,385 10k participants, 1,348 children ages 5-12 participated in the Virginia 529 Kids Run. Thirty-three bands performed and 21 spirit groups cheered, providing entertainment to all in attendance.

The 2014 edition of the race followed up a 2013 event that ranked as the third largest 10K road race in the country.

Full results are available at www.sportsbackers.org. The 2015 Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k presented by MARTIN'S will take place on Saturday, March 28. Registration is scheduled to open in December.